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By Jason A. Vrtis
Arizona Daily Wildcat
August 21, 1996
The UA's athletic department will celebrate its athletic centennial by honoring past and present athletes and coaches throughout the year at every home sports contest.The athletic department has also unveiled a new centennial logo and created 30-second centennial sport moments that will air on KVOA Channel 4 and KNST radio throughout the year, promoting the centennial, said Thomas Sanders, associate director of athletics for development.
The department also introduced a new line of centennial merchandise in May that is currently selling at the McKale Sports Shop, Sanders said. He said profits from this merchandise will help offset athletic scholarship costs.
Other off-campus businesses are also selling the merchandise. At the request of the athletic department, the centennial merchandise can only be purchased at the McKale Sports Shop. A sample rack of the clothing line is set up at the McKale Shop, and items can be ordered there or through the Wildcat Club.
"Our goal is to heighten awareness of the richness of UA athletics," Sanders said.
Sanders said the celebration will not have too many special centennial events. Instead, some form of celebration for the centennial will be held at every home game, he said.
Wells Fargo Bank has signed on to be the principal sponsor of the centennial, and J.C. Penney Co. Inc. will carry a special line of University of Arizona centennial athletic wear throughout the season, Sanders said.
Sanders said that one of the reasons J.C. Penney decided to promote UA athletic gear was because of how well it sells outside of Tucson.
"UA memorabilia does surprisingly well in the Phoenix area, especially when it is compared to Arizona State stuff," Sanders said.
Since May, 142 orders have been taken, said Debby Shively, merchandise manager of the UA Associated Students Bookstore and the McKale Sports Shop.
"I feel it has been selling fairly well, but it is a little premature because most of the student population is just getting back," Shively said.
"I think one of our main goals is just to try and brand the logo," said Steven Sullivan, director of the athletic department's marketing and promotions. "It has been added to all the department's promotional literature, and it can be seen on additional promotions as well."
The new logo incorporates the standard "A" trademark on a backdrop of Arizona yellow with a red ribbon on top that says "1897-1997 Athletic Centennial."
The new logo will also be painted on the field at Arizona Stadium and the floor of the McKale Center, and will be added to all athletic uniforms for the upcoming year, Sullivan said.
The UA's first sthletic competition was a track and field day held Feb. 22, 1897 at what is now the corner of Park Avenue and 22nd Street.
The athletic department will commemorate the event in February and is also planning a "gala event" toward the end of the academic year, Sanders said.
The 30-second TV and radio spots are narrated by Brian Jeffries, "voice of the Wildcats," and will replay memorable moments in UA sports history, Sanders said. Each 30-second spot will be sponsored by local businesses, such as Casino of the Sun, Horizon Moving Systems and Wells Fargo Bank, Sullivan said. He said other businesses will be signing up to sponsor other centennial promotions during the year.
In addition to these sponsors, The Arizona Daily Star andTucson Citizen will devote a full page each month, during the centennial year, to a poster-size picture of an event in UA sports history and a written wrap-up describing the event, Sullivan said. He said Tucson Lifestyles will also be devoting 16 pages of its November issue to the centennial.
The athletic department is not receiving any support from the UA for this celebration and is trying to recruit sponsors to underwrite all the events, Sanders said.
In addition to honoring great UA athletes, teams and sport successes, the athletic department will also focus on activities that honor UA traditions that have origins in athletics, Sanders said.
Traditions honored will include recognizing the school colors cardinal red and navy blue; the Arizona nickname, "Wildcats;" "A" Mountain; the slogan "Bear Down;" and the fight song that had origins connected to athletics.
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